Name: ex vivo culturing of whole, developing drosophila brains
Uploaded: 2012-07-27T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains at JoVE.com

We would like to thank all the members of our lab for their advice, useful discussions and comments on the manuscript. We would also particularly like to thank Marta Koch and Bassem Hassan for the excellent suggestion that we wait until 1.5 hours APF before dissecting brains for culturing in remodeling experiments. We also thank the NHGRI imaging facility for the use of their confocal microscope. This work was supported by the Basic Neuroscience Program of the NINDS Intramural Research Program, NIH (Z01 NS003106).

A. Preparation of Media
<ol>
	<li>Prepare complete media by filter-sterilizing Schneider's Drosophila Media supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum and 1% penicillin/streptomycin.</li>
	<li>Media should be prepared fresh each time. Alternatively, a fresh aliquot of pre-frozen media can be thawed before each use.</li>
	<li>Prior to culturing, add 10 &mu;g/ml insulin and 2 &mu;g/ml ecdysone to the media. Drugs were prepared as concentrated stocks and frozen in small aliquots. Thawed aliquots were not refrozen.<...

<ol>
	<li>Trunova, S., Baek, B., Giniger, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cdk5+regulates+the+size+of+an+axon+initial+segment-like+compartment+in+mushroom+body+neurons+of+the+Drosophila+central+brain.">Cdk5 regulates the size of an axon initial segment-like compartment in mushroom body neurons of the Drosophila central brain.</a> J. Neurosci. 31 (29), 10451-10462 (2011).</li><li>Nakada, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accumulation+of+anchored+proteins+forms+membrane+diffusion+barriers+during+neuronal+polarization.">Accumulation of anchored proteins forms membrane diffusion barriers during neuronal polarization.</a> Nat. Cell Biol. 5 (7), 626-632 (2003).</li><li>Schmid, G., Strosznajder, J. B., Wesierska-Gadek, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Interplay+between+the+p53+tumor+suppressor+protein+family+and+Cdk5:+novel+therapeutic+approaches+for+the+treatment+of+neurodegenerative+disease+using+selective+Cdk+inhibitors.">Interplay between the p53 tumor suppressor protein family and Cdk5: novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease using selective Cdk inhibitors.</a> Mol Neurobiol. 34 (1), 27-50 (2006).</li><li>Kahsai, L., Zars, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Learning+and+memory+in+Drosophila:+behavior,+genetics,+and+neural+system.">Learning and memory in Drosophila: behavior, genetics, and neural system.</a> Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 99, 139-167 (2011).</li><li>Lee, T., Lee, A., Luo, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+the+Drosophila+mushroom+bodies:+sequential+generation+of+three+distinct+types+of+neurons+from+a+neuroblast.">Development of the Drosophila mushroom bodies: sequential generation of three distinct types of neurons from a neuroblast.</a> Development. 126, 4065-4076 (1999).</li><li>Watts, R. J., Hoopfer, E. D., Luo, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Axon+pruning+during+Drosophila+metamorphosis:+evidence+for+local+degeneration+and+requirement+of+the+ubiquitin-proteasome+system.">Axon pruning during Drosophila metamorphosis: evidence for local degeneration and requirement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.</a> Neuron. 38 (6), 871-885 (2003).</li><li>Lee, T., Marticke, S., Sung, C., Robinow, S., Luo, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-autonomous+requirement+of+the+USP/EcR-B+ecdysone+receptor+for+mushroom+body+neuronal+remodeling+in+Drosophila.">Cell-autonomous requirement of the USP/EcR-B ecdysone receptor for mushroom body neuronal remodeling in Drosophila.</a> Neuron. 28 (3), 807-818 (2000).</li><li>Connell-Crowley, L., Le Gall, M., Vo, D. J., Giniger, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+cyclin-dependent+kinase+Cdk5+controls+multiple+aspects+of+axon+patterning+in+vivo.">The cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk5 controls multiple aspects of axon patterning in vivo.</a> Curr. Biol. 10 (10), 599-602 (2000).</li><li>Truman, J. W., Riddiford, L. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endocrine+insights+into+the+evolution+of+metamorphosis+in+insects.">Endocrine insights into the evolution of metamorphosis in insects.</a> Annu. Rev. Entomol. 47, 467-500 (2002).</li><li>Noguchi, T., Miller, K. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+role+for+actin+dynamics+in+individualization+during+spermatogenesis+in+Drosophila+melanogaster.">A role for actin dynamics in individualization during spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.</a> Development. 130, 1805-1816 (2003).</li><li>Siller, K. H., Serr, M., Steward, R., Hays, T. S., Doe, C. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Live+imaging+of+Drosophila+brain+neuroblasts+reveals+a+role+for+Lis1/dynactin+in+spindle+assembly+and+mitotic+checkpoint+control.">Live imaging of Drosophila brain neuroblasts reveals a role for Lis1/dynactin in spindle assembly and mitotic checkpoint control.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 16 (11), 5127-5140 (2005).</li><li>Brown, H. L. D., Cherbas, L., Cherbas, P., Truman, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+time-lapse+imaging+and+dominant+negative+receptors+to+dissect+the+steroid+receptor+control+of+neuronal+remodeling+in+Drosophila.">Use of time-lapse imaging and dominant negative receptors to dissect the steroid receptor control of neuronal remodeling in Drosophila.</a> Development. 133, 275-288 (2006).</li><li>Williamson, W. R., Hiesinger, P. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+Developing+and+Adult+Drosophila+Brains+and+Retinae+for+Live+Imaging.">Preparation of Developing and Adult Drosophila Brains and Retinae for Live Imaging.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (37), e1936 (2010).</li></ol>

Chronic genetic manipulations of tissue structure and function, including mutations and expression of transgenes, typically produce a combination of immediate effects and late indirect consequences that can be very difficult to separate. Complementing genetic methods with pharmacology can facilitate interrogation of the time course behind a phenotype. For example, this has been a powerful approach for dissecting the contributions of different cytoskeletal components during spermatogenesis in Drosophila <s...

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of Reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalog Number</td>
 <td>Final Concentration</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Schneider's Drosophila Media</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>21720-024</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Fetal Bovine Serum (heat-inactivated)</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>10082-147</td>
 <td>10% </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>15140-122</td>
 <td>1% </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Insulin</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>12585-014</td>
 <td>10&mu;g/ml </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ecdysone</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>H5142</td>
 <td>2&mu;g/ml </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Roscovitine</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>R7772</td>
 <td>100&mu;M </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Olomoucine</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>O0886</td>
 <td>100&mu;M </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Normal Goat Serum</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>50062Z</td>
 <td>1% </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Bovine Serum Albumin</td>
 <td>Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>M9501</td>
 <td>1% </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Formaldehyde</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>D4551</td>
 <td>4% </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Triton-X 100</td>
 <td>Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>BP151</td>
 <td>0.5% </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Phosphate Buffered Saline</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>70011-044</td>
 <td>1X </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Vectashield</td>
 <td>Vector Laboratories</td>
 <td>H1000</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Millicell Cell Culture Inserts</td>
 <td>Millipore</td>
 <td>PI8P01250</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Multidish, 4 well</td>
 <td>Thermo Scientific</td>
 <td>176740</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dumont #5 Forceps</td>
 <td>Fine Science Tools</td>
 <td>11251-20</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Microscope Slides</td>
 <td>Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>12-544-7</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cover Glass</td>
 <td>Fisher Scientific</td>
 <td>12-548-5M</td>
 <td>&nbsp;</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
 </table>

ex vivo culturing of whole, developing drosophila brains

We describe a method for ex vivo culturing of whole Drosophila brains. This can be used as a counterpoint to chronic genetic manipulations for investigating the cell biology and development of central brain structures by allowing acute pharmacological interventions and live imaging of cellular processes. As an example of the technique, prior work from our lab1 has shown that a previously unrecognized subcellular compartment lies between the axonal and somatodendritic compartments of axons of the Drosophila central brain. The development of this compartment, referred to as the axon initial segment (AIS)2, was shown genetically to depend on the neuron-specific cyclin-dependent kinase, Cdk5. We show here that ex vivo treatment of wild-type Drosophila larval brains with the Cdk5-specific pharmacological inhibitors roscovitine and olomoucine3 causes acute changes in actin organization, and in localization of the cell-surface protein Fasciclin 2, that mimic the changes seen in mutants that lack Cdk5 activity genetically.
A second example of the ex vivo culture technique is provided for remodeling of the connections of embryonic mushroom body (MB) gamma neurons during metamorphosis from larva to adult. The mushroom body is the center of olfactory learning and memory in the fly4, and these gamma neurons prune their axonal and dendritic branches during pupal development and then re-extend branches at a later timepoint to establish the adult innervation pattern5. Pruning of these neurons of the MB has been shown to occur via local degeneration of neurite branches6, by a mechanism that is triggered by ecdysone, a steroid hormone, acting at the ecdysone receptor B17, and that is dependent on the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system6. Our method of ex vivo culturing can be used to interrogate further the mechanism of developmental remodeling. We found that in the ex vivo culture setting, gamma neurons of the MB recapitulated the process of developmental pruning with a time course similar to that in vivo. It was essential, however, to wait until 1.5 hours after puparium formation before explanting the tissue in order for the cells to commit irreversibly to metamorphosis; dissection of animals at the onset of pupariation led to little or no metamorphosis in culture. Thus, with appropriate modification, the ex vivo culture approach can be applied to study dynamic as well as steady state aspects of central brain biology.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains at JoVE.com

Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains

This article describes a method by which one can mimic in vivo development of the Drosophila mushroom body in an ex vivo culture system.

Ex vivo Culturing of Whole, Developing Drosophila Brains

We describe a method for ex vivo culturing of whole Drosophila brains. This can be used as a counterpoint to chronic genetic manipulations for ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

In vivo Electroporation of Developing Mouse Retina

In vivo Electroporation of Developing Mouse Retina

The functional characterization of genes expressed during mammalian retinal development remains a significant challenge.  Gene targeting to generate ...

Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna

Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna

Odorant molecules bind to their target receptors in a precise and coordinated manner. Each receptor recognizes a specific signal and relays this ...

A Simple One-step Dissection Protocol for Whole-mount Preparation of Adult Drosophila Brains

A Simple One-step Dissection Protocol for Whole-mount Preparation of Adult Drosophila Brains

There is an increasing interest in using Drosophila to model human brain degenerative diseases, map neuronal circuitries in adult brains, and study the ...

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons

GABAergic interneurons (INs) are critical components of neuronal networks that drive cognition and behavior. INs destined to populate the cortex migrate ...

Ex Vivo Calcium Imaging for Visualizing Brain Responses to Endocrine Signaling in Drosophila

Ex Vivo Calcium Imaging for Visualizing Brain Responses to Endocrine Signaling in Drosophila

Organ-to-organ communication by endocrine signaling, for example, from the periphery to the brain, is essential for maintaining homeostasis. As a model ...

Metabolic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Larval and Adult Brains

Metabolic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Larval and Adult Brains

This protocol describes a method for measuring the metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster larval and adult brains. Quantifying metabolism in whole organs ...

Mouse Retina OCT Fibergram Alignment with Confocal Images

Alignment of Visible-Light Optical Coherence Tomography Fibergrams with Confocal Images of the Same Mouse Retina

Author Spotlight: Advancements in In Vivo and Ex Vivo Retinal Imaging for Improved Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment 

In recent years, in vivo retinal imaging, which provides non-invasive, real-time, and longitudinal information about biological systems and processes, has ...

Preparation for Ex Vivo Color Fundus Photography 

Understanding Motor Neuron Responses to Spinal Cord Stimulation

The Ex vivo Preparation of Spinal Cord Slice for the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recording in Motor Neurons During Spinal Cord Stimulation

Author Spotlight: Advancing Spinal Cord Stimulation - Exploring the Cellular Responses of Motor Neurons Through Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology 

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can effectively restore locomotor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Because the motor neurons are the final unit to ...

Monitoring Epileptiform Events in Drosophila via Calcium Imaging

Ex Vivo Calcium Imaging for Drosophila Model of Epilepsy

Author Spotlight: Insights into the Techniques and Findings of Recent Advancements in Epilepsy Research 

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, partially correlated with genetic origin, affecting over 70 million individuals ...